Sensitivity distribution of Septoria tritici isolates to flusilazole for consecutive years 1993, 1994 and 1995 in France,Germany and the United Kingdom

Sensitivities of Septoria tritici populations to flusilazole were stable across Europe during the three seasons, 1993–1995 inclusive. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry     

The Marine-Derived Kinase Inhibitor Fascaplysin Exerts Anti-Thrombotic Activity

Background: The marine-derived kinase inhibitor fascaplysin down-regulates the PI3K pathway in cancer cells. Since this pathway also plays an essential role in platelet signaling, we herein investigated the effect of fascaplysin on thrombosis. Methods: Fascaplysin effects on platelet activation, platelet aggregation and platelet-leukocyte aggregates (PLA) formation were analyzed by flow cytometry. Mouse dorsal skinfold chambers were used to determine in vivo the effect of fascaplysin on photochemically induced thrombus formation and tail-vein bleeding time. Results: Pre-treatment of platelets with fascaplysin reduced the activation of glycoprotein (GP)IIb/IIIa after protease-activated receptor-1-activating peptide (PAR-1-AP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) stimulation, but did not markedly affect the expression of P-selectin. This was associated with a decreased platelet aggregation. Fascaplysin also decreased PLA formation after PMA but not PAR-1-AP and ADP stimulation. This may be explained by an increased expression of CD11b on leukocytes in PAR-1-AP- and ADP-treated whole blood. In the dorsal skinfold chamber model of photochemically induced thrombus formation, fascaplysin-treated mice revealed a significantly extended complete vessel occlusion time when compared to controls. Furthermore, fascaplysin increased the tail-vein bleeding time. Conclusion: Fascaplysin exerts anti-thrombotic activity, which represents a novel mode of action in the pleiotropic activity spectrum of this compound.     

Potential of combined biological control agents to cope with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora parasitica,</Emphasis> a major pathogen of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Choisya ternata</Emphasis>

The Cook Agronomy Farm of Washington State University is a long-term precision agriculture study site. Since 2000, the farm has been in various three-year no-till rotations with winter wheat, spring wheat, and various rotation crops such as barley, canola, peas, lentils, and chickpea. The spatial distribution of root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) and their relationships with soil and terrain variables were studied by collecting soil samples at 127 and 124 geo-referenced points in two 12-ha fields during the spring of 2010 and 2011, respectively. Pratylenchus spp. were detected in more than 85% of the sampled locations in both fields. Nematode densities spatially mapped using ArcGIS software occurred in an aggregated pattern. Previous rotation crops had no effect on the spatial distribution. Classification and regression tree analysis (CART) using soil and terrain variables, and nematode density, explained 61 and 34% of the variability associated with nematode density in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Soil edaphic factors, such as organic matter, were stronger predictors of nematode populations than rotation effects.     

Interactions between beta-lactoglobulin and aroma compounds: different binding behaviors as a function of ligand structure

Interactions between beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) in its monomeric form and a wide range of aroma compounds were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. A screening of the ligands was carried out by FT-IR through the amide I region changes of BLG upon binding. The location of two binding sites was determined by 2D NMR from the study of 10 selected ligands with different structures. All of the data suggest at least two binding behaviors as a function of the chemical class, the hydrophobicity, or the structure of the ligands. The binding of the elongated aroma compounds, such as 2-nonanone or ethyl pentanoate, within the central cavity involves residues located at the entrance of the calyx and Trp19. The binding onto the protein surface of aroma compounds that have or adopt a compact structure occurs in a site located between strand beta-G, alpha helix, and strand beta-I.     

Peroxyl radical scavenging capacity, polyphenolics, and lipophilic antioxidant profiles of mulberry fruits cultivated in southern China

Twenty-seven cultivars of mulberry fruits ( Morus atropurpurea Roxb) were analyzed for their total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, and peroxyl radical scavenging capacities. The proanthocyanidin contents of the fruit were also quantified using 4-dimethylamino-cinnamaldehyde assay, and characterization was attempted using electrospray ionization mass spectra. The phenolic compounds of mulberry fruits were characterized using HPLC with ESI-MS and diode array detection. Results showed that the content of mulberry fruits varied with different cultivars with total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, total proanthocyanidin content, and peroxyl radical scavenging capacities ranging from 0.060-0.244, 0.001-0.056, 0.001-0.015, and 0.301-1.728, respectively. Good correlations were observed among the phenolic, anthocyanin, and proanthocyanidin contents and the radical scavenging capacities of mulberry fruits. Mulberry fruits were found to contain low amount of proanthocyanidins. The high total phenolic content of mulberry fruits were mainly contributed by anthocyanins, rutin, and chlorogenic acids. The lipid soluble antioxidants are profiled by an HPLC method developed in-house, and the results of selected mulberry fruits revealed significant amounts of lutein and delta- and gamma-tocopherols but low alpha-tocopherol. Our results provide useful antioxidant nutritional information of a mulberry cultivar that has potential for large scale plantations.     

Olfactory perception of cysteine-S-conjugates from fruits and vegetables

Volatile sulfur compounds have a low odor threshold, and their presence at microgram per kilogram levels in fruits and vegetables influences odor quality. Sensory analysis demonstrates that naturally occurring, odorless cysteine- S-conjugates such as S-( R/ S)-3-(1-hexanol)- l-cysteine in wine, S-(1-propyl)- l-cysteine in onion, and S-(( R/ S)-2-heptyl)- l-cysteine in bell pepper are transformed into volatile thiols in the mouth by microflora. The time delay in smelling these volatile thiols was 20-30 s, and persistent perception of their odor occurred for 3 min. The cysteine- S-conjugates are transformed in free thiol by anaerobes. The mouth acts as a reactor, adding another dimension to odor perception, and saliva modulates flavors by trapping free thiols.     

Biotransformation of vinclozolin in rat precision-cut liver slices: comparison with in vivo metabolic pattern

Vinclozolin is a dicarboxymide fungicide that presents antiandrogenic properties through its two hydrolysis products M1 and M2, which bind to the androgen receptor. Because of the lack of data on the biotransformation of vinclozolin, its metabolism was investigated in vitro in precision-cut rat liver slices and in vivo in male rat using [ (14)C]-vinclozolin. Incubations were performed using different concentrations of substrate, and the kinetics of formation of the major metabolites were studied. Three male Wistar rats were fed by gavage with [ (14)C]-VZ. Urine was collected for 24 h and analyzed by radio-HPLC for metabolic profiling. Metabolite identification was carried out on a LCQ ion trap mass spectrometer. In rat liver slices and in vivo, the major primary metabolite has been identified as 3',5'-dichloro-2,3,4-trihydroxy-2-methylbutyranilide (M5) and was mainly present as glucuronoconjugates. M5 is produced by dihydroxylation of the vinyl group of M2. Other metabolites have been identified as 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-5-methyl-5-(1,2-dihydroxyethyl)-1,3-oxazolidine-2,4-dione (M4), a dihydroxylated metabolite of vinclozolin, which undergoes further conjugation to glucuronic acid, and 2-[[(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-carbamoyl]oxy]-2-methyl-3,4-dihydroxy-butanoic acid (M6), a dihydroxylated metabolite of M1.